MONEY CAN’T BUY HAPPINESS: Reality of life which we realise late

MONEY CAN’T BUY HAPPINESS: Reality of life which we realise late, Can you be happy if you have a big mansion to stay, an indoor pool to bathe or a luxury car to drive. Or is it something related to the sense of freedom, love, relationship, and self-realization. There are basically two types of people who think that Money can’t buy happiness – Those who have an excess of money and still find themselves unhappy and those who have never had plenty of money.

What is Happiness?

What is happiness? Is it pleasure?

Is there any difference between happiness and pleasure?

Happiness is always defined differently by different people. Somebody’s happiness may be a bad fortune to the other. So what is ultimate happiness? It is something which differentiates you from the materialistic pleasures and you stay in constant bliss. You multiply your happiness by helping others, being calm and caring. This kind of happiness cannot be bought with money.

Needs V/S Wants

Life is very simple but we make it complicated. The basic rule of life includes ‘Needs and Wants’. The things which are basics for human survival like food, clothes, shelter etc are the needs. Sufficient money, electricity, education, and transport can also be counted as needs in modern day life. Once a man fulfils his basic needs, he doesn’t stop there, he desires for more. A salary hike, a better home in the city, expensive clothes, luxury vehicle and when he crosses this stage he wants even more like a world tour, a luxury villa and new hobbies like golf, sailing, etc.

So basically wants are never ending and if the happiness is dependent on these factors then it’s really hard to imagine that one will get happiness because he/she will be always indulged in acquiring more and more. It is good to be ambitious and money can be a good driving force to lead a comfortable life but when one becomes greedy and selfish then the ultimate goals of life are replaced with materialistic things. An achievement does bring happiness but for a short span. We work hard for years to achieve something but it vanishes in few days or months.

Is Money Important?

It will be wrong to say that money is not important. Just imagine, you are travelling somewhere with your family. In this journey, your goal is the journey itself and not the destination. That journey with family is the happiness but the fuel required to run the car throughout the journey requires money. If the fuel tank dries, you can still drive it on a slope but that will be risky. Human life also works the same way, money is essential to run the life and it is very difficult to survive without money. You struggle for happiness when earning money is the only goal in your life.

Happiness v/s Pleasure

You can acquire pleasure with money but actually you need a lot of money to buy pleasure. A wise man will not mix happiness with pleasure whereas a common man thinks pleasure as definitive happiness and at the end of the day he may find himself in depression, anger, loneliness but with a lot of money. There are several businessmen in India who earn in millions and can afford pleasures but they get happiness by doing social work and charity and that is the source of their happiness. Mr. Ratan Tata who is one of India’s top businessmen spends 60% of his earning to social service, NGO, and charity.

Conclusion

It should be noted that money is an essential part of modern life and one cannot survive without it but one should not make money as the sole source of happiness. Money can buy pleasures but not happiness and these two things should be kept different.